The US will resume deportation flights to Venezuela that its government had halted after President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke Chevron Corp.’s license to operate in the country.

While portrayed by the Trump administration as hardened criminals, the Venezuelans deported from the United States were welcomed back with open arms as prodigal sons and daughters — ironically, by the man in charge of the repressive apparatus that initially forced many of them to flee.

U.S. diplomat Richard Grenell added in his post that the flights would start on Friday. Venezuela's communication ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In late January, Grenell visited the Venezuelan capital of Caracas as an envoy of U.